Cardinals coach Arians: A top-round pick on a WR is not necessary
Mar 29, 2017, 7:00 PM | Updated: Mar 30, 2017, 11:15 am
Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams (7) runs as Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward (12) pursues during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
PHOENIX — Though not necessarily seen as a weak spot, it has been thought that the Cardinals could use some help at wide receiver, and may look toward the draft to find it.
To wit: Besides Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer, Clemson receiver Mike Williams is the most commonly mocked player to the Cardinals with the 13th pick in the upcoming draft.
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians would of course not say who the team might be looking to draft, but speaking at the NFC Coaches Breakfast at the Arizona Biltmore, he seemed to disagree with the idea that his team needs to address an issue at receiver.
“I’m fine with where we’re at,” he said. “Getting Jaron (Brown) healthy, and now Aaron Dobson; the big key is John Brown — he is working out twice a day right now, not having any symptoms. So knock on wood that we get John Brown back, that we know.
“Aaron’s another tall, big guy who’s had really good success. We all love Jaron, so a top-round pick isn’t necessary.”
That’s not to say if the right guy falls in the draft the team will not take him, of course, just Arians does not see a big hole at the position.
Last season, Larry Fitzgerald led the team with 107 receptions, which he turned into 1,023 yards and six touchdowns. John Brown was second among wideouts in receptions, with 39, while J.J. Nelson finished behind Fitzgerald in yards, with 568.
John Brown was battling a sickle-cell trait that limited him all season, whereas Jaron Brown tore his ACL in Week 7 against Seattle.
“He is so far ahead of schedule, but we’re not going to push it,” Arians said of Jaron Brown. That means even if Brown is ready for mini-camp and OTAs, he may not participate in all of it.
One player for whom offseason work will be very important is Dobson. If he makes the team, he could be seen as a guy who may fill the role Michael Floyd held before he was released following a DUI. The 25-year-old was a 2013 second-round pick of the New England Patriots, and at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds brings some size to the position.
“I love Mike, I wish it would have never happened for him, but he dropped way too many balls,” Arians said. “So whoever we put out there is going to be fine.”
Arians went on to say he’s not too concerned about a player’s height, noting that if a big wideout is not too fast, he’ll just have to be able to catch the ball over defenders. In three seasons — all with the Patriots — Dobson has caught 53 passes for 698 yards and four touchdowns, with his best season coming in 2013.
“I liked Aaron Dobson coming out, I’m really excited having Aaron,” Arians said. “But Jaron Brown had had such a great camp, Jaron’s that guy, too.”
